Explore. Connect. Engage.

Certification Requirements

Requirements for an Initial Certificate:

Upon successful completion of your program and passing scores on New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE), you will apply for Initial Certification. The Initial Certification is valid for five years; your first year of teaching must be mentored. During this five-year period, you must complete requirements for the professional certificate. For more information, visit New York State Department of Education’s Certification Requirements FAQs page.

A TEACH Waiver Consent Form must be completed for SUNY Plattsburgh to recommend you for certification! Log onto BANNER, go to Student Menu and click on Student Records Menu. Click on "Teach Waiver Consent Form" and click “ACCEPT.”

The Teacher Certification Office can only recommend SUNY College at Plattsburgh graduates to the New York State Department of Education for teacher certification after they have completed an approved teacher preparation program. The Teacher Certification Office also verifies program completion for graduates applying for out of state certification and serves as a resource for a variety of teacher certification related topics.

Teaching In Other States

If you need to verify the completion of a SUNY College at Plattsburgh approved teacher preparation program for certification purposes in another state, please send the out of state verification form with a stamped envelope containing the address to which you would like the verification sent to the attention of Bethanne DelGaudio, Director of Certification.

Contact Information

If you would like more information about teacher certification at SUNY Plattsburgh, please contact: